Letter XXXVIII

Summary

From Mrs. B. to Miss Darnford. In Answer to Letters XXXV. and XXXVI.

My dear Miss Darnford,

I skip over the little Transactions of several Days, to let you know how much you rejoice me, in telling me Sir Simon has been so kind as to comply with my Wishes. Both your charming Letters came to my Hand together, and I thank you an hundred times for them; and I thank your dear Mamma, and Sir Simon too, for the Pleasure they have given me in this obliging Permission. How happy shall we be together! But how long will you be permitted to stay, tho’?—All the Winter, I hope:—And then, when that is over, let us set out together, if God shall spare us, directly for Lincolnshire, and so pass most of the Summer too in each other's Company. What a sweet Thought is this!—Let me indulge it a little while.

Mr. B. read your Letters, and says, You are a charming young Lady, and surpass yourself in every Letter. I told him, that he was more interested in the Pleasure I took in this Favour of Sir Simon’s, than he imagin’d. As how, my Dear? said he. A plain Case, Sir, reply’d I: For endeavouring to improve myself by Miss Darnford 's Conversation and Behaviour, I shall every Day be more worthy of your Favour. He kindly would have it, that nobody, no, not Miss Darnford herself, excelled me.

’Tis right, you know, Miss, he should think so—tho’ I must know nothing at all, if I was not sensible how inferior I am to my dear Miss Darnford: And yet, when I look abroad now-and-then, I could be a proud Slut, if I would, and not yield the Palm to many others.—But don't let every body know how vain I am. Yet they may too, if they take in, at the same time, that I have some Excuse, when I have won so happily the Favour of two such Judges, as Mr. B. and Miss Darnford, and had the good Fortune, too, to rejoice in that of Lady Davers, and the Countess of C.